Remote sensing & GIS for land cover, land use change detection and analysis in the semi-natural ecosystems and agriculture landscapes of the Central Ethiopian Rift Valley

Nowadays earth observation satellites continuously acquire huge amounts of data with the effect that the capacity of current technologies to extract and analyse spatial data can hardly cope up properly. This abundance of spatial data is especially in developing countries not adequately used because the setup of spatial data infrastructure is at its infancy. This research work represents a valuable step towards the establishment of the relationship of spectral signatures of MODIS satellite imagery and biophysical characteristics of agricultural and semi-natural ecosystems along parts of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Important issues regarding the assessment of multi-temporal dynamics of the encroachment of protected areas by livestock are systematically investigated by analyzing the monthly animal feed shortage or surplus as detected by MODIS imagery. Easy-to-handle empirical formulae and extended models of respective calculation are provided. The trend of degradation of ecologically important areas is accurately mapped and the annual net loss is calculated. Experts and stakeholders in natural resources management, in remote sensing and GIS with special regard to assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management as well as policy makers dealing with environment governance and students aspiring to become experts in natural resources management and remote sensing and/or GIS for ecological regional development may find this book useful for enlarging their methodological as well as practical level of knowledge.